Causes of the Revolutionary War Group Summary

Causes Sugar Act Quartering Act Stamp Act Writs of assistance Townshend Acts Boston Massacre Boston Tea Party Intolerable Acts

Sugar Act Tax on sugar and molasses, intended to stop smuggled imported sugar from the Spanish and Dutch. Return to Causes

Quartering Act Forced colonists to house British soldiers in their homes and buildings. Return to Causes

Stamp Act Taxed stamps, which had to be carried on any document or paper good in the colonies. Return to Causes

Writs of Assistance Allowed British soldiers to search and confiscate smuggled goods without consent. Return to Causes

Townshend Acts A variety of laws used to expand and enforce taxes in the colonies, suspended the New York assembly. Placed more taxes on goods such as: glass, paper, tea, lead, and paint. Return to Causes

Boston Massacre A build up of anger between the colonists and British soldiers peaked with British soldiers shooting 5 Boston citizens, became a rallying point for the patriot cause. Return to Causes

Boston Tea Party A group led by Samuel Adams named the Sons of Liberty, dressed as Navajo Indians, threw a British Tea shipment into the harbor. It was the colonial response to the Tea Act, which allowed the British to control the tea market in the colonies. Return to Causes

Intolerable Acts British response to the Boston Tea Party. The acts closed Boston harbor until the wasted tea was paid for, revoked Massachusetts’ charter, banned the committees of correspondence, and brought over more British officials to regain control. Return to Causes